Territory



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

No. 409,600. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

7 (N Model.)

7 2 Sheets-Sheet J. M. 8: M. S. BROWNING.

MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

- No. 409,600. A PatentdAug. 20, 1889.

i JOHN M. BROXVNING MAGAZINE Fins-ARM.

AND. MATTHEW S. BROWNING,

TERRITORY.

Parana FFICE,

' or OGDEN, UTAH LSPEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,600, dated August 20, 1889.

7 Application filed May 21, 1888. Renewed Junnary 8, 1889. Serial No. 295,807. (No model.)

- To all whom it may concern-.-

Beit known that we, JOHN M. BROWNING and MATTHEW S. BROWNING, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connect-ion with the acerence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, andcompanying drawings and the letters of refexact description of the same, and which said vdrawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

' Figure l, a sectional side view showing the parts in the closed or normal position Fig. 2, a top view of-the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section illustrating the breech-piece as in the unlocked posit-iongFig. 4, a longitudinal section shoiving thfe parts iiTthe exiTr'ei'ne open position; Fig. 5, a section on line w of Fig. .1, looking forward; Fig. 6, a transverse section on line y y; Fig. 7, a top view of the sear and trigger; Figs. 8 and 9, modifications.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of fire-arms in which the breechpiece is in the form of a bolt and adapted to move longitudinally backward and forward substantially in line with the barrel, parts of the invention being applicable alike to single-loaders and magazine-arms.

The object of the invention is, principally, to produce a positive locking-resistance for the breech-piece against recoil by the engagement of the breech-piece itself with the receiver, thereby avoiding the employment of hinged dogs or bracesas in many of this class of ar1nsthe result of which is that the mechanism is very greatly simplified and the cost of construction cor-respomlingly reduced;

and the invention consists in a breech-piece arranged to move longitudinally backward and forward in opening and closing the rear end of the barrel, the breeclnpieec constructed with one or more upwardl y-projectin g shoulders adapted to engage corrcspondin g shoulders in the frame when the breech-piece is in 'its closed position, and the breech piece adapted to receive a downward movementsufiicient to disengage the breech-piece from the receiver before the breech-piece commences its rear movement, and in other details of construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the receiver, to the forward 'end of which the barrel B is attached in the usual manner and opening into the receiver at the rear. Below the barrel is theusual magazine also opening into the receiver at the rear, in the usual manner. I

D represents the breech-piece, which is arranged longitudinally in the receiver, so as to extend through the rear of the receiver, so that the breech-piece may receive a longitudinal backward and forward movement, At the forward end the breech-piece is constructed with an upward projection E, so as to form a shoulder a upon the rear side of the-projection. The receiver extends over the breech-piece; sons to form a shoulder Z) in rear of the shoulder a on the breechpiece when the breech-piece is in the closed position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, The receiver is open on the right-hand side of the brceclrpicce, the extension of the receiver over the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 2, partially covering the breechpiece, but so as to leave an opening F on the right-hand side, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5. About midway of the breech-piece, on its upper side, a second shoulder d is formed, and the rear end of the opening of the receiver forms a correspond ing shoulder c, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, with which the shoulder (Z on the breeclrpiecc is adapted to engage when the breech-piece is in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 1.

' 'lhe breech-piece is operated by means of a handle G, arranged beneath the barrel and forward of the receiver, and from whichhandie a bar H extends rearward into the receiver, the rear end of the bar having'a block I made fast .to it, which block carries an inwardly-projecting stud J, which works in a corresponding groove K in the side of the breech-piece, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. groove K inclines rearward and upward, so as to make a cam-shaped groove with relation to the breech-piece in which the groove is The formed. As the bar ll moves rearward it opcrates in the inclined-shaped groove K in the breech-piece, and correspondingly forces the breech piece downward, as indicated in which leaves the breech-piece free to move rearward. After the-breech-piece has been thus dropped a continued roar movement of the bar .H will correspondingly force the breech-piece rearward. To guide the breechpiece in its rearward movement, a groove L is formed longitudinally on the left-hand side of the breech-piece. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) This groove is substantially parallel with the uner side of the breech-piece, and into it a stationary stud M in the side of the receiver extends, so that as the breech-piece moves rearward the stud serves as a guide for such rear movement, and also supports thehreechpiece rearwardly- When the breech-piece is dropped,this groove comes into line substantially parallelwith the axis of the barrel, and so that the breech-piece may be thrown to its extreme rear movement, or open, as represented in 'Fig. 4. Then, as the breech-piece is returned the groove L works over the stud M, as before, until the breech-piece reaches its extreme forward position. Then thestud J of the bar Hreacts through the groove K, and imparts to the breech-piece an upward movement to bring the locking-shoulders of the breech-piece into engagement with the corresponding locking shoulder of the re ceiver. In this upward movement of the breech-piece it turns upon the stud M as a pivot.

The forward end of the breeclrpiece is provided with a spring extractor-hook f upon the side of the opening in the receiver, which extractor is of the usual form, and the breechpiece is also provided with a stationary stud upon the opposite side, (not shown,) and such I as is commonly employed in connection with the spring-extractor.

A recess is formed in the receiver forward to permit the up-and-down movement of the extractor and its stud, (not necessary to be shown,) so as to allow the vertical play necessary in the np-and-down movement of the breech-piece, but so that the cartridge is engaged by the extractor, in the usual manner, that the exploded shell, orcartridge it it be not exploded, may be withdrawn from the barrel in the rear or opening movement of the breech-piece, and as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear position a stationary ejector-stud int-he receiver, (indicated n broken lines, Fig. 2,) on the side of the receiver opposite the opening, meets the head of the cartridge-shell, so as to stop the roar movement of the shell on that side, while the extractor-hook is engaged with the opposite side, and because of such stopping by the stud the continued rear movement of the breech-piece and extractor-hook imparts a lateral swinging movement of the shell to the right suiiicient to eject the shell from the receiver. This is a common expedient for ejecting the shell through the side of the receiver in this class of arms.

Longitudinally through the breech-piece the hammer N is arranged. The hammer is of tubular shape, terminating atits forward end in a striking-point O, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the hammer may slide longitudinally in the breech-piece, and through a corresponding slot P in the hammer a pin Q is inserted, which remains stationary while the slot permits the requisite amount of movement to the hammer. Forward of this pin Q in the hammer a spiral spring R is arranged, which bears forward against the closed end of the hammer and rearward against the pin Q, and so that as the hammer is drawn rearward the spring will be compressed, and then the reaction of the spring will impart the striking movement to the hammer. The hammer is provided with a thumb-piece S, by which it may be drawn rearward.

In the receiver beneath the hammer, and upon a pivot T, the sear U is hung, supported by a spring V below it, so as to bear its nose upward toward the hammer, and the hammer is constructed with the usual half and full cock notches g it, so that as the hammer is drawn. to the full-cock position, as seen in ,Fig. 3, the sear will engage the hammer and hold it in that position. The rear movement ofthe breech-piece under the action of the handle takes the notches of the hammer to the rear of the nose of the sear, as seen in Fig. 4, and. then as the breech-piece is moved forward, and when the full-cock notch it reaches the nose of the sear, it engages therewith, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the hammer will he held in the full-cock notch, while the breech-piece continues its forward movement and is brought to the locked position. Thus, under the closing movement of the breechpiece, the hammer is left at full-cock.

A trigger is arranged bywhich the sear may be disengaged from the hammer, so as to permit the hammer to fly forward and i1npart its blow. Under the best arrangement the trigger t' is hung upon the same pivot 'l as the sear, but at one side of the scar, as seen in Fig. 7, so as to swing in a plane parallel with the sear. The forward end i of the trigger is arranged to engage a corresponding shoulder m on the sear, as soon in Fig. 1, this shoulder being inclined upward and forward, so that a pull upon the trigger brings the shoulders I cut into engagement, as seen in Fig. 1, so that a continued pull. of the trigger will draw the scar downward andout of engagement with the hammer, as indicated in Fig. l; but as the trigger stands in the pulled position, as seen in Fig. l, the

IIO

7 breech-piece, the sear will be pressed downward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1. Then, as the opening movement of the breechpiece continues the sea will still be held downward until in the return -.oi-' .the breechpiece-thel full-cock notch of the hammer comes to the nose of the sear; then the sear will rise and engage that full-cock notch, as seen in Fig. 3. Now, if the trigger be held in its rearward position, as seen in Fig. 3, and the breech-piece be raised to the locked position, such rise of the breech-piece will take the full-cock notch 7L above and out of engagement with the sear, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3, there leaving the hammer free to fly forward; but if the trigger be left free the engagement of the scar and hammer will continue while the breech-pieceis being brought to the locked position, and then the pull upon the trigger will discharge the hammer. Under this arrangement, and for rapid firing, the trigger is held in the pulled position, as seen in Figs. 1 and Then the opening and closing movement of the breechpiece engages the hammer with the sear, as

before described, and the final locking of the breech-piece will discharge the hammer, so that the movement of the handle which operates the breech-piece produces the discharge of the hammer, as the lockin g of the breechpiece is completed, but such release of the hammer cannot occur until the breech-piece is substantially locked.- Because of this arrangement the trigger-finger has nothing to in a vertical plane, and isof substantially the do except to hold the trigger in the pulled position, the discharge of the hammer being produced under the locking movement of the breech-piece.

until such time as discharge is desirable;

A carrier -nis hung in the receiver beneath the breech-piece upon a pivot 0, so as to swing usual construction.

The breech-piece is constructed with a shoulder 1-, which is adapted to engage a corrcsponding upward projection s from the carrier asfithe breech-piece approaches its eX- treme open position, and so that a'cartridge having passed on to the carrier from the magazine, as indicated in Fig. 3, the carrier will be raised as the breeclrpiece approaches its extreme rear movement, as seen in Fig. 4, and corresponijlingly raise the cartridge to a position forward of the front face of the breechpiece. As the cartridge rises it strikes the overhanging port ion ot'the receiver, so that it is th'erel y brimght into a direct linejbetween If, however, such rapid firing 15 not desirable, the trigger may be left free and the hammer held at cock the breech-piece and barrel, as seen in Fig. 4, and so that as the breech-piece next moves forward it willi'orce the cartridge into the barrel in the usual manner for this class of arms. i

The magazine is charged when the breechpiece is in the open position. The forward end of the carrier is provided with a hinged dog it, hung therein soas. to swing in a vertical plane, as from the position Fig. 3 to that in Fig. 4, it being forced so to do by the stud or shoulder a in the side of the receiver, against which the forward end of the dog strikes as the carrier reaches its extreme up position and so that the nose of the dog is turned down below the upper side of the mouth of the magazine. The dog then stands in a position to resist the rear movement of the column of cartridges in the magazine, to preventtheir escape after the carrier has risen. As the carrier descends the dog is returned, as seen in Fig. 3, and so as to leave the rearmosteartridge in the magazine free to pass on to the carrier.

At the lower side of the magazine a spring 10 is arranged, the tendency of which is to hold the cartridge up against the upper side of the mouth of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 4. This spring is for the purpose of charging the magazine, and it yields for the passage of a cartridge into the magazine until the cartridge-head can escape the nose of the dog if, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 4. Then the cartridge, being free, is forced upward by the spring and the dog holds that cartridge and the column in advance of .it until the next cartridge is inserted, and so on until the magazinc is fully charged. The dog also serves to aid in raising the rear end of the cartridge. Its tail 1 extends in rear of its pivot and consequently rises as the nose of the dog is turned downward, and this rising of the tail of the dog tends to force up the rear end of the cartridge, as seen in Fig. 4.

o have represented the groove K as formed in the breech-piece and the stud J on the bar H; but this order may be reversed and the groove formed'as substantiallya part of the slide, andthe stud on the breech-piece, as indicated in Fig. 8, and accomplish the same result in substantially the same way.

In case it is not desirable that the sear should have the independent movement which we have described, whereby the most rapid firing may be produced, the sear and trigger may be made integral, as represented in Fig. :1.

It will be understood that the common lon-- gitudinal firing-pin and hammer may be arranged as a well-known substitute for the longitudinal hammer in the breech-piece. This substitution is too well knownto require illustration or particulardescription.

Te claim- 1. In a fire-arm having the barrel open into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-recip'rocating breech-piece constructed with one or more upwardly'projectingshoulders and the receiver with one or more corresponding shoulders, with which said shoulder on the breechpiece will engage when thebreeclrpiece is in the fully -closed position, the said breechpiece also hung at its rear end, whereby a vertical swinging movement may be imparted to said breecl1-piece,a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, with a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, the rear end of the bar within the receiver, and the breech-piece constructed. the one with a camshaped groove and the othcr with corresponding stud, substantially as described, and whereby under the first part of the rear movement of said handle and bar the forward end of the said breech-piece will be dropped, and then under the last part of the forward movement of said bar the forward end of the breech piece will be raised to respectively engage and disengage the shoulder of the breech-piece and receiver.

2. In a fire-arm havingaloarrel open into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-reciprocating 'lnreeeinpiece constructed with one or more upwardly-projecting shoulders, and the receiv'er with one or more corresponding shoulders, with which the said shoulder on the breech-piece will engage when the breechpiece is in the fully-closed position, the said breech-piece also hungat its rear end, whereby a vertical swinging movement may be imparted to said breech-piece, a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, with a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, the

'rear end of the bar within the receiver, and the breech-piece constructed theone with acamshaped groove and the other with a corresponding stud, a hammer extending longitudinally through the breech-piece provided with one or more engaging-notches, a sear hung in the receiver below the hammer and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the nose of the said sear adapted to engage a corresponding notch on the hamrn'das the breech-piece approaches its closed position, and a trigger, substantially as described. v

In a fire-arm having the barrel open into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith ot' a longitudinally-reciproeating brcech-piece constructed with one or inore upwardly-projecting shoulders, and the receiver Wit-hone or more corresponding shoulders, with which said shoulder on the breechpiece will engage when the breech-piece is in the fully-closed position, the said breech piece also hung at its rear end, whereby a vertical swinging movement may be imparted to said breech-piece, a handle beneaththe barrel forward of. the receiver, with a bar ex- I tending therefrom into the receiver, the rear end of the bar within the receiver, and the breech-piece constructed the one with a camshaped groove and the other with corresponding stud, a hammer extending longitudinally through the breech-piece provided with one i or more engaging-notches, a scar U, hung in the receiver and so as to swing in a vertical plane, and adapted to engage a corresponding notch on the hammer as the breech-piece is moved forward, atrigger hung to swing in 

